Former U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly nominated to be Vatican ambassador

Brandon Smith

Joe Donnelly served as Indiana's U.S. senator from 2013 to 2019.
*(Lauren Chapman/IPB News)*

Another Hoosier is joining the Biden administration. The president Friday nominated former U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly to be ambassador to the Vatican.

Donnelly – like Biden, a Catholic – had campaigned for Biden, writing an op-ed last year talking about their shared faith tradition.

The Hoosier Democrat served three terms in the U.S. House before winning the race to replace former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar in 2012. He lost his re-election bid in 2018 to now Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.).

His appointment as ambassador to the Holy See must be confirmed by the Senate.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Support independent journalism today. You rely on WFYI to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Donate to power our nonprofit reporting today. Give now.

LGBTQ+ advocates: BMV gender rule, second hearing shows transgender Hoosiers they 'are not welcome'

Transgender advocates have filed a public records request for correspondence between the governor's office and Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. They want more information about the decision to hold a second public hearing on a proposed ban on gender changes to state driver's licenses.